BALTIMORE—The UMBC men's and women's
swimming and diving teams swept George Washington in dominating
fashion Saturday afternoon at the UMBC Natatorium. The teams
combined to win 24 of 28 total events, as the women cruised to a
137-103 victory, while the men won by a score of 138-112.
Meanwhile, the UMBC divers took on Towson in unscored
competition, and junior Andrew
Eckhoff swept the men's boards, smashing the
school 3-meter record with a score of 354.30. The previous mark of
318.30 was set by Jeff
Salgado in 2007. In addition, Eckhoff won the 1-meter
board with a score of 335.10, and he qualified for the NCAA Zone
Regionals in both events.
On the swimming side, sophomore Johan
Rohtla (Tallinn, Estonia/Tallinn Secondary
Science) won three events to lead the way for the Retriever men
against the Colonials, as he took the 100 back (52.08), the 200
back (1:53.43) and the 200 IM (1:58.01).
Freshman Lauri
Kaei (Harjurmaa, Estonia/Tallinn Secondary
Science) and Pierre
De Waal (Pretroria, South Africa/Tuks
Sport/Cleveland State) also won multiple individual events for the
men, as Kaei took both the 100 and 200 free in 47.38 and 1:40.97,
respectively, while De Waal won the 200 fly (1:43.26) and 500 free
(1:54.10). Kaei was also a member of both winning relays, while De
Waal was on the victorious 400 free relay team.
Other individual winners for the Retriever men included
junior Steve
Gallagher (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) in the 50
free (21.76), sophomore Charlie
Melesh (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis/Pfeiffer) in the
1,000 free (9:51.60), senior John
Mendenhall (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East)
in the 200 breast (2:09.06) and senior Ben
Wolbert (Finksburg, Md./Westminster) in the 100
fly (52.41). Like Kaei, Gallagher was also a member of both winning
relays, while Mendenhall and Wolbert were a part of the top 200
medley relay team.
The Retrievers took the top three spots in the 200 fly, as
junior Rico
Bado (Georgetown, Texas/Georgetown) and
freshman Mark
Tracy (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) followed De
Waal.
In addition, UMBC swept the men's relays, as Kaei, Mendenhall,
Wolbert and Gallagher took the 200 medley relay in 1:35.54, while
Kaei, Gallagher, senior Andrew
Reid (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) and De Waal won the
400 free relay in 3:10.48.
The women were led by sophomore Talor Tadena (Orangevale,
Calif./Bella Vista) and juniors Jennifer Kotonias (Burtonsville, Md./Holy
Cross) and Elise Blaschke (Swell,
N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep), who each won two individual events.
Tadena won the 100 breast (1:05.92) and the 100 free (53.07), while
Blaschke swept the backstroke events, taking the 100 in 59.54 and
the 200 in 2:09.67, and Kotonias took both the 1,000 free
(10:22.88) and the 200 IM (2:08.24). Tadena was also a member of
both winning relay teams.
Other individual winners for the Retriever women included
senior Ashley Sippel (Rockville, Md./Thomas
Wootton) in the 200 free (1:54.90), junior Tara Morrissette (Somersworth, N.H./Saint
Thomas Aquinas) in the 200 fly (2:06.96) and senior Ashley Miller (New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New
Smyrna Beach) in the 50 free (24.72). Miller was also a member of
the winning 400 free relay team.
The Retrievers took the top three spots in four events,
including both backstrokes, as well as the 200 fly and the 50
free.
UMBC swept the relays, as senior Kathryn Moorby (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape
May Regional), Tadena, senior Laura
Tilman (Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) and
senior Abbey
McKenney (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) won the
200 medley relay in 1:48.18, while McKenney, Tadena,
sophomore Erika Ronning (Western Springs,
Ill./Lyons Township) and Miller took the 400 free relay in
3:33.78.
The Retrievers return to action in two weeks, as they visit
Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 12.